Sen. Reed Discusses HUD Budget Cuts With Pawtucket Mayor

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed is expected to discuss budget cuts to the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development with Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien, Monday morning. The senator says cuts to HUD could hurt the Ocean State.

The meeting comes after the Washington Post published leaked documents that reported the Trump administration’s plans to reduce the HUD’s budget by 14 percent- over $6 billion in cuts.

According to the documents, the Community Development Block Grant and HOME program are subject to dismissal which Sen. Reed says would cost the state at least $20 million a year.

Reed, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, says eliminating these programs would hurt efforts to build more affordable housing in the Ocean State.

Roughly $15.2 million of CDBG funding and $5 million in HOME funding was granted to the state last year. The money has been used to create affordable housing and in communities like Pawtucket, it has also been used for job training.

Sen. Reed and Mayor Grebien are scheduled to meet at the Mathieu Senior Center.